Nail file handle



C. L. FARRIS Feb. 14; 1933.

NAIL FILE HANDLE Filed Sept. 2, 1931 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES CYNTHIA L. FAREIS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI NAIL FILE HANDLE Application filed September 2, 1931. Serial No. 560,719.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in nail file handles, the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The main objects of my invention are first, to provide a fiat, thin, rigid handle of substantially the size and thickness of the handle portion of a standard nail file used by manicurists, and in combination with a double-taper file of the same length and thickness of said standard nail file, but tapering equally both ways in width from the middle to the smaller ends, whereby said handle can be applied successively on both ends of said file as hereafter described; second, to obtain more efiicient use of said nail file; third, to provide such a handle with grooves that will tend to wedge it firmly operative position successively on the ends of such a double-taper nail file frictionally; fourth, to improve the frictional engagement of said handle; and fifth, to provide such a handle in such form that it can be stamped out of sheet material and cheapen production.

In the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding part-s,

Fig. l is a view illustrating the use of a nail file by a manicurist;

Fig. 2, an edge View of my preferred form of handle and nail file;

Fig. 3, a face view of the same applied to a double-taper nail file;

Fig. 4-, a partial section of the file and handle on the line l4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a face view of the handle only showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, a rear end view of the handle, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a front end view of the same; and

Fig. 8, a longitudinal section on the line 88, Fig. 5, with the file indicated in broken lines;

In the use of the usual standard size and shape of a manicurists nail file, the operator holds the handle portion in the right hand generally and becomes accustomed to the use of the file in tl e position in which she tors right hand in the position she has can most eificiently operate on the customers finger nails. On account of the speed required to handle many customers quickly, she holds the file in practically the same position in the right hand (when the oper- 55 ator is right handed), and uses one face of the file near the bottom edge, and then turns the file so as to use the other face near the bottom edge, as indicated in Fig. 1. In this customary manner of use of a nail file, the 9 upper portion of the side edge successively, is not brought in contact with the nails of the customer. Such unused portions of the two faces of the file are not brought into operative position unless she turns the file 6 backward in her right hand, or shifts it to her left hand, which is awkward and lessens her efiiciency, since the teeth all project toward the smaller end. Thus the ordinary nail file is only half worn out in use by a G right handed operator, and in fact such files are sometimes sold to left handed operators who are accustomed to the use of the left hand and will thus bring the unused portions of the partly used files into efiective position and completely use up the nail file.

I have therefore provided a double-taper nail file of substantially the same thickness and length of standard nail file ordinarily used, but which tapers equally both ways from the middle, and have provided a flat, thin, rigid handle adapted to engage the tapered ends successively and thus allow constant use by the operators right hand, and bring both faces of the file near both side edges into operative position without changing the position and motions of the right hand to which she has become accustomed and is thus most efficient.

indicates a double-taper nail file corresponding in thickness and length to the manicurists file generally used by her in her business. both ways from the middle to the smaller ends as shown, so that the smaller ends are alike.

In order to manipulate such a nail file and obtain the increased efficiency by the opera- This special file tapers equally Referring to the drawing, the numeral 9 found most efficient, I provide a detachable handle to be successively applied to these taper ends, as indicated in the figures.

This handle is substantially the same width and thickness as the handle portion of the standard file of the same size as file 11, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The preferred form of such handle is stamped or otherwise made from sheet material such as nickel silver or nickel brass which can be polished on a bnfiing wheel and afford the same appearance and sensation to the operators fingers as the standard file 11, as the outline 12 (Figs. 3, and 5) is substantially that of the said handle portion 11.

In said preferred form of handle made in sheet metal, a tapering longitudinal recess 13, Fig. 8, is formed in one face of a depth not greater than the thickness of the tapering end of the nail file. This recess in the sheet metal causes a corresponding offset wall portion 14, Figs. 4 and 8,011 the opposite face of the handle. At the ends of said recess a front band 15 and rear band 16, di posed on the opposite side of the path of the hammer when inse ted in the main recess, are formed preferably by pressing the sheet metal in the opposite direction and forming recesses 17 and 1S respectiy'ely at the ends of the main recess 13, as shown in Fig. 5.

These tapering recesses in line with each other and located on the central longitudinal axis of the handle, allow of reversing the handle on each tapering end of the nail file, and similarly applying it to the other end of said file.

The wedging taper of the walls of the recesses exerta frictional engagement of the inserted tapering ends successively, but for further security from accidental movement of the handle on the file, I provide a spring clip preferably formed by slits 20 21, at one or both ends of the main recess, or elsewhere. The end of the rear tongue formed by slits 21 for example, is turned up at 22 towards the path of the nail file so as to press strongly against the adjacent serrated face of the file and increase the frictional engagement of the inserted end with said handle. lVhen the file is inserted in the handle as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 8, the tongue 22 is easily sprung backward to allow the end of the file to pass under the rear band 16. A similar spring clip may be formed at the slit 20 if desired, the slit 20 being of such size that the end of the file may be readily inserted in the opening between the band 15 and the adjacent portion of the tongue on the back 14.

Fig. 6 shows this spring tongue 22.

The end view of Fig. 7 shows a free path for insertion of the end of the nail file past the band 15 into the main recess 13.

7 My special nail file has both fiat faces file-cut with teeth from end to end to provide maximum filing surface. The side edges throughout are smooth as in the usual form of single nail file, as the edges ride on the left hand of the operator indicated in Fig. l. The teeth on each fiat face of my file preferably project in opposite directions from the center as indicated in Fig. 4, to give a double action on thena'il being filed in each adjusted location of the handle on the ends.

I claim:

1. A nail file handle of sheet metal consisting of a thin, flat plate handle having a longitudinal wall portion laterally offset in one face, and bands offset in the other face disposed at the ends of the wall portion forming a tapering recess to receive a nail file, said wall portion near one band having a slit forming a spring tongue pointing to the rear disposed in the path of the nail file to frictionally engage the inserted file, substantially as described.

2. A nail file handle comprising a sheet metal plate having a longitudinal, laterally ofi'set wall portion on one face of the handle with a slit at each end of said wall portion forming oppositely disposed spring tongues in the path of an inserted file, and having bands laterally offset on the opposite side of, and adjacent to said tongues and cooperating therewith to hold an inserted nail file, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

CYNTHIA L. FARRIS. 

